7% surge in people taking their own lives

The number of people dying by suicide has surged by 7% in just 12 months — a rate 14 times higher than murder levels for the same period.

Figures revealed by the CSO show 525 deaths were officially recorded as suicide last year — with a further 63 described as unexplained, bringing the potential total to 588.

The official figure is 7% higher than the 488 deaths by suicide recorded in 2010, and more than 14 times the murder rate (37) for the same 12 months — despite violent attacks repeatedly gaining more attention as a major societal problem.